The main structure is free-standing and has an octagonal appearance, attributable to its original use as a pigeon house. It has been added to over the years but the original timber-framed structure is clearly visible. It was originally located close to St Albans Cathedral (when it was St Albans Abbey) and was moved to the present site sometime after the dissolution of the Abbey in 1539. Its foundations are claimed to be even older, dating from around 793 but again this is dubious. It is thought that there are tunnels running between the cathedral and the pub's beer cellars which were once used by monks.[3]

As with many old buildings, the ceilings are quite low. An original bread-oven is next to one of the fireplaces. It has a very large beer garden with different seating arrangements, as well as seats out the front.

The building, in its current location, was originally known as "The Round House"[4] but there is no record of it being licensed as a public house under that name. The first known reference to it being an alehouse is in 1756 when it appears to be trading as the "Three Pigeons". Around 1800 its name changed to the "Fighting Cocks", perhaps in reference to the sport of cock fighting which was popular at the time and which may have taken place in the main bar area. It is known by locals as 'The Fighters' or 'The Cocks'. The prefix, "ye olde...", is a late 19th century affectation.[5]

The Cocks was featured in an exterior scene in "The Sins of the Fathers", a 1990 episode of the ITV series Morse. The setting was the beer garden along the River Ver, with the pub's large sign plainly visible in the background.